My Auntie Ree Ree recently sent me this picture from when I was in high school. I actually like it, even though I wish I hadn’t rocked the goatee—I’m not a fan. The earrings either, lol. But I did have a fresh head of hair and a nice formal outfit on, so it’s a great picture overall. I’ll probably use it if anyone ever asks for a high school photo, even though every time I see myself with a goatee (and earrings), I cringe. I can appreciate a nice watch, but I’ve never been much into jewelry.
I wore the goatee because I was a huge fan of Odell Beckham Jr., who was and still is one of the most exciting football players to watch. He was truly a generational talent and always put on a show. All through my life, I wanted to be a professional football player—that was the only job that ever felt relevant to me through high school. From freshman year to senior year, I trained hard and made some impressive progress. I’ve even got a post about my football journey if anyone’s interested in hearing more.
As for my hair, I was sporting the “Duke starting 5” look, which was a popular cut in high school. Even though I wasn’t crazy about it, it was kind of a necessary in-between length for guys with short hair, dreads, or braids. I kept it through most of high school. I went to Myers Park High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was a predominantly white school. There were minorities, but as a minority myself, it was sometimes hard to find my identity in that environment. Still, the school provided a high-quality education, and I often reflect on how I could have taken better advantage of the opportunities and connections it offered.
Looking back, I realize how obsessed I was with football. In high school, everything was second to the sport. I got As and Bs, maybe a C once in a while in a tough class, but I didn’t really care about academics—I just wanted decent enough grades to keep playing. I know now that if I had valued my education more, beyond just as a means to play football, I could have been an outstanding student. But at the time, I was content with slightly above-average grades.
I learned a lot from my high school experience—lessons I needed to learn and wouldn’t have grasped otherwise—so I’m grateful for it. I don’t dwell on high school, and I wouldn’t consider it anywhere near my favorite topic of conversation. Or even a topic I enjoy at all. But since my Auntie Ree sent me this picture, I thought I’d reflect on it a bit. Go Mustangs!
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